Choosing sides is no easy matter, and this was certainly true for the citizens of Baltimore in the beginning stages of the Civil War. Using video, group analysis of several primary sources, and discussion, this detailed and thorough...

Pose the question to your historians: who really freed the slaves? They critically assess various arguments, using primary sources as evidence. In small groups, scholars jigsaw 5 primary source documents (linked), and fill out an...

Young historians consider the cause and effects of the Emancipation Proclamation. They use handouts, response sheets, and class discussion to build an opinion about the subject after viewing the PBS documentary Abraham and Mary Lincoln:...

Complete with territory maps, photos, and interesting anecdotes, this video covers the major events of American History, roughly from 1754 to 1865. Plymouth and Jamestown are mentioned in the beginning of the video, but the speaker...

Did Lincoln know that victory for the Union was imminent? According to this video, which discusses the end of the Civil War (including a great anecdote about a historic coincidence between the beginning and end of the war), many...

Games are a great way to motivate learners to internalize information.. Using this PowerPoint which is in a Jeopardy format, students can review map skills and facts about the Civil War, famous places, and our government. This is a handy...

"History can teach us much more than just the facts. It's full of examples of how to live better." One of the greatest benefits of studying history is the inspiration we can draw from those who have worked to make a difference in the...

A quiet, serene town in Pennsylvania became the setting for an integral battle in the Civil War. The Battle of Gettysburg, Lee's second invasion of the North, failed to secure ground for the Confederacy. This video, part two in a series,...

What caused the American Civil War? Who were the major figures during this time? Focusing specifically on slavery and the attack on Fort Sumter, this resource provides a quick overview of some of the conflicts faced at this time.

It's April 3, 1865, and Robert E. Lee's troops are all but surrounded. After four years of fighting, Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant sit down together to discuss terms of surrender. This resource, part three of three, glances over the...

The Gettysburg Address is a powerful text. Use it to teach persuasion and the importance of word choice. The instructional activity detailed here includes a scaffolded background knowledge activity that includes image analysis of photos...

Students engage in a lesson that is concerned with the creation of The Gettysburg Address set within a modern context. They read the entire speech and then brainstorm to create modern ideas that are similar. Students compose a modern...

The story of Abe Lincoln serves as the backdrop to this vocabulary-in-context activity as you read David Adler's A Picture Book of Abraham Lincoln. Scholars learn these politically themed words before listening to you read the story...

Learners examine how various segments of the American population viewed the Emancipation Proclamation. They read the Emancipation Proclamation, analyze key terms and statements in the document, and participate in a debate.

Who was Abraham Lincoln, and what is the Gettysburg Address? Sixth graders participate in a seminar where they read and analyze the Gettysburg Address and its importance. The role of Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War is also...

Young scholars explore the suspension of habeas corpus. For this American history lesson, students examine how President Lincoln handled constitutional issues during the Civil War as they research, debate, and write about the topic.

Students explore Lincoln's Reconstruction plan. In this Reconstruction instructional activity, students examine Lincoln's speeches and writings on bringing the country back together following the war.

Mark Twain's life, politics, writing, and role as a mirror of pre- and post-Civil War American culture are the focus 11th and 12th graders in this section from an expansive author study. A critical writing assignment comparing Twain to...

Fourth graders use primary and secondary sources to research the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. They identify arguments supporting and opposing the position that Lincoln's assassination could have been prevented and write a report...

Learners complete a unit of lessons on the historical context and significance of Lincoln's inaugural address. They analyze archival documents, campaign posters, historical photographs, and primary source documents, and listen to songs...

Learners determine how President Lincoln promoted emancipation. For this slavery lesson, students examine primary documents, including the U.S. Constitution, to reconstruct Lincoln's attempts to end slavery and deliver the Emancipation...

Students explore Abraham Lincoln's role as Commander in Chief. In this American Civil War lesson, students listen to an instructor-delivered lecture on Lincoln's leadership and then analyze 8 pirmary documents to determine what Lincoln's...